Over the past 42 years, as I’ve switched hats from journalism teacher to English teacher, I’m often asked, “What the difference?”Ah, but citing the differences would cover several columns. For now, the important distinctions are in the audience: For the most part, assignments given in English/composition classes end at the teacher’s desk; in journalism classes, the goal is publication, before a larger audience.So it is with letters to the editor, possibly the most popular feature in the daily press. As copy editor, I get to field most of the submissions, and I’ve become aware of many repeated features, including extreme length. Overall operation of the editorial page, however, rests with Tom McDonald, editor and publisher.
Some people expect us to do the research for them. Some letters — particularly from schools — omit first names, as students use Mr., Ms. or Mrs. We then call the writers, asking them to provide the given names, or we go to the phonebook.We correct when we can but still hear from readers who say, “You . . . you changed a comma in my letter!”
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A mini-controversy erupted this month after the Albuquerque Journal published an editorial on student performance. The opinion piece suggested cutting down electives for students who perform poorly in reading and writing, and instituting more requirements.
Following that, students of David Wahler, a social studies teacher at Jefferson Middle School, wrote letters, mostly critical of the Journal’s stance.
The editors decided to publish the letters unedited. I believe the Journal’s decision was correct, inasmuch as the editorial itself dealt with various degrees of writing skills. Given that Jefferson Middle School is touted as one of the most academically advanced in the Duke City, this would be a chance for students to defend electives and in doing so, to strut their stuff.
The editors used only students’ initials. Here’s a verbatim sampling of some of the eight letters:
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1. I think thats not fair to the kids that are chalenged in those euents because what if they dont get a good score? What if you were that kid would you wont to have your elective tooken away. I know I wont wont my eletive tooken away. wht abut the sped kibs? Hae you thought about that! — R.O.
2. The “All work, no play” artical was a pice of crap. What is your problem? As a high school students we deserve to have your elictives we do not deserve to have them taken away from us. I dissagree with your oppion. If students dont have there electives we will have no reason to come to school. And if kids start not coming to school it will be your fault. —T.P.
3. The article was called “All work, no play.” Are teacher read this article on Monday and I and other kids in are class wasn’t very happy about it. We heard that we had to pass the ABS in eEighth grade or that we had to get a extra class and they toke out are elective. I didn’t like that they toke out are elective because I heard that there was really good electives in High School. It would be different with out electives because some people go to school just for their electives and if they take that out there will be more drop outs then before. I think that you Shouldn’t take out are electives. — R.T.
4. I am writing about your artical on “All Work, No Play” and i think that this is a good thing too do for these children because if the children fail the S.B.A. test why would they get a elective when they dont deserve one! Getting an edication is far more importent then playigng sports or cooking!
I also think it is a good idea that if the children fail they have to take two corces of that class again so that they can learn it all over again so when the next S.B.A. test is taken they will be able to pass!
So yes I thingk this is a good idea for the school and the children! — M.Q.
5. Your story on “All work, No play.” this idea of yours is not such a good plan. Its unfair because schools can be very hard on us kids we need a class to be not so hard on us. Classes are already hard enough as it is already I mean espesialy the homework. — P.R.
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To be sure, other letters arrived days later; some faulted the teacher for submitting the letters unedited; some blamed the newspaper.
Interesting that one student said the teacher read the editorial to the class, as opposed to having them read it themselves. By writing a letter to a newspaper, the students must have known their words and ideas — warts and all — would be subject to public scrutiny.
Did the teacher err, possibly, in failing to explain to the kids that the Journal doesn’t control the APS curriculum and therefore can’t add or delete courses? Did he fail to discuss fully the ramifications of cutting down electives?
And finally, does the plethora of misspellings, typos, run-on sentences, virtual absence of major punctuation, and the inability for some to make a point say anything about the larger, nation-wide public education picture? The assumptions is that the students submitted first drafts. But what if these letters represent second, or even third drafts?
Also disturbing is some people’s wish that the letters had been polished up before being printed. Does that mean that every student who wrote is capable of much better performance, given a bit more time? Does a properly edited, corrected submission — even if refined by the teacher, to the point where it’s stripped of any semblance of the student’s writing — make everything all right?
Or possibly, some people simply do not care, reflecting the attitude that “I know Johnny’s not able to express himself very well, but it’s up to someone else (teacher, editor, parent) to fix it up for him.”